Clinical benefits of n-3 PUFA and ɤ-linolenic acid in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

© 2017 by the authors. (1) Background: Marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and ɤ-linolenic acid (GLA) are well-known anti-inflammatory agents that may help in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Their effects were examined in patients with rheumatoid arthritis; (2) Methods: Sixty patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were involved in a prospective, randomized trial of a 12 week supplementation with fish oil (group I), fish oil with primrose evening oil (group II), or with no supplementation (group III). Clinical and laboratory evaluations were done at the beginning and at the end of the study; (3) Results: The Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS 28 score), number of tender joints and visual analogue scale (VAS) score decreased notably after supplementation in groups I and II (p < 0.001). In plasma phospholipids the n-6/n-3 fatty acids ratio declined from 15.47 ± 5.51 to 10.62 ± 5.07 (p = 0.005), and from 18.15 ± 5.04 to 13.50 ± 4.81 (p = 0.005) in groups I and II respectively. The combination of n-3 PUFA and GLA (group II) increased ɤ-linolenic acid (0.00 ± 0.00 to 0.13 ± 0.11, p < 0.001), which was undetectable in all groups before the treatments; (4) Conclusion: Daily supplementation with n-3 fatty acids alone or in combination with GLA exerted significant clinical benefits and certain changes in disease activity

Influence of antipsychotics on metabolic syndrome risk in patients with schizophrenia

Objective: Many studies so far have shown that antipsychotic therapy may have an effect on the development of metabolic syndrome in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Our goal was to determine whether our respondents are at risk for developing metabolic syndrome and who is more predisposed to it. Methods: In a stable phase, 60 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were equally divided into three groups according to the drug (risperidone, clozapine, and aripiprazole monotherapy). Control group had 20 healthy examinees. Patients were evaluated first using The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Prolactin, lipid status, glycemia, insulin, cytokine values (IL-33, TGF-β, and TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Also, Body mass index (BMI), Homeostatic Model Assesment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA index), waist and hip circumference (WHR) and blood pressure (TA) measurement were performed in the study. Results: Patients treated with risperidone compared to healthy control subjects and aripiprazol group of patients had statistically significant difference in prolactin levels. In clozapine group compared to healthy control group values of HDL cholesterol and glucose level were statistically significant different. In aripiprazole group compared to healthy control group value of BMI was statistically significant different. Statistically significant correlations were found in TNF-α with glucose and HOMA index in risperidone treated patients and with BMI in clozapine group of patients; IL-33 with glucose in risperidone and with BMI in clozapine group of patients and TGF-β with glucose in risperidone group, with insulin and HOMA index in clozapine group and statistically significant negative correlation with LDL cholesterol in aripiprazole group of patients. Conclusion: Patients on risperidone and clozapine therapy may be at greater risk of developing metabolic syndrome than patients treated with aripiprazole. Statistically significant difference in concentration of TNF-α and TGF-β was in the group of patients treated with risperidone compared to healthy control group